Automatic button-blank-cutting machine



Oct, 39,1923. I M7227 W. E. KNOTT AUTOMATIC BUTTON BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 25 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 n f mlml "5 i lli llllllll'" 6 ?E: L? J .V Je 'y f 8 1 36 6 a 1 23 35d: /l zo' .33

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Oct, 30, 1923.

W. E. KNOTT AUTOMATIC BUTTON BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 25 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 noauto/.a

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Oct` 30, 1923. 1 y 1472,275

W. E, KNoTT AUTOMATIC BUTTON BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 25 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ramas oa; 3c, 1923.

titans WARREN E. KNOTT, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

.AUTOMATIC BUTTON-BLANK-CUTTING MACHINE.

Applicationrled March 25, 1919, Serial No. 285,076.

T @ZZ 'whom t may concer/a.'

Beit known that I, VARREN E. KNorT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Rapids,in the county ot Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in automatic Button-Blank-Cutting Machines and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ot the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

rllhis invention relates to a machine i'or automatically cutting pearl button blanks trom shells, the only hand operation necessary in the operation of the machine being thc placing ot the shells trom which the blanks are cut in the machine and changing the same at a certain point in the machine to new positions after the blanks have been cut for the cutting of additional blanks from the shells. To successfully attainthis, it is necessary to provide means for securely holding the shells so that the same may be operated upon by the cutting saws, further means for holding` the saws in the machine so that the same may be put in or changed by unskilled help, and automatic mechanism for feeding the cutting saws into the shells ,to cut the blanks with a predetermined speed so that when any shell is carried through a cycle of the machine, coming back to the position at which it was entered into the machine, a blank has been cut from the shell and it may be changed to another position to cut another blank, the mecha.

nism automatically ejecting the blank already cut when it reaches such position. My invention comprises novel constructions and combinations ot parts for the attainment ot these ends, together with means for operating a plurality ot shell holding and button blank cutting units simultaneously and cutting the blank in the successive units progressively whereby quantity production is had.

For an understanding of the invent-ion, reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with the ac companying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine', one cutting unit only being shown, and with certain parts omitted for clearness of disclosure.

Fig, 2 is a section taken longitudinally and centrally ot the cutting spindle of a unit, showing the method of holding the saw in place.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine, and

Fig. 4i is a larger 'scale side elevation ot the invention as embodied in a single unit hand operated machine, the construction of the cutting unit being substantially the same as those used in the multiple unit machine shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different views of the drawings.

In construction, a frame for supporting the mechanism is made comprising, preferably, three vertical posts l, spaced apart and connected adjacent their lower ends by suitable cross braces 2, while the upper ends are connected by a member 3, having arms et, 5 and 6 disposed at angles of 120 degrees, substantially, to each other, though of course, the particular angle of one arm to another is not of any particular consequence. Branch arms 7 extend from the arms 5 and 6 toward what may be termed the `front of the machine, and from the outer end of each arm 7 a studk 8 extends downwardly :tor a distance. Pulleys or wheels 9 are rotatably mounted one on each post 1 and smaller pulleys or wheels 10 at the lower ends of studs 8, all of said wheels being in the same horizontal plane.

A cam member 11 is carried by and below the arms 4, 5 and 6, bolts 12 being used for purpose of attachment. This member on its under side has a short horizontal surface 13, while the remainder of the under side of the member is cut at a progressive incline as indicated at 14, there being two shoulders 15 and 16 at the ends of the surface 13, and between it and the inclined portion 14, as shown.

A vertical shaft 17 is rotatably mounted on and between the lower and upper members 2 and 3 of the supporting frame, any suitable thrust bearing being provided at the lower end of the shaft, and on this shalt upper and lower drums 18 and 19 are iiXed, the upper drum being longer than the lower drum. A plurality of brackets 20, one for each cutting unit as later described are lined to and' project radially from the lower drum, each terminating` in a vertical sleeve in which a spindle 21 is mounted so that it may be adjusted vertically by operation ot hand wheel 21, the same as in a lathe `tail stock, this being an old and well known mechanical construction not needing detailed disclosure. The spindle is fixed against rotation and at its upper end hasa block 22 secured described on the lower drum, an upper bracket 23 and two spaced apart lower brackets'24 are attached and project radially. A rod 25 is slidably mounted in and passes through Vall of the brackets and is normally elevated by a spring 26 disposed between the upper bracket 24 and a collar 27 on the rod so that its upper end bears against the under side of the member 1l, near the outer edge thereof. An arm 28 projects from rod 25 just below the bracket 23 and two arms 29 therefrom between the brackets 24. A sleeve 30 passes through arms 29 and brackets 24 and is rotatably mounted, a pulley for imparting rotation to the sleeve being connected thereto between the arms 29 as indicated at 31.

Into the lower end of the sleeve 30 a head 32 f is threaded, a collar 32a limiting the extent of insertion of the head into the sleeve. The head is bored tapering so as to receive a saw 33, split lengthwise at one side, and shaped to fit the tapered bore. The saw is held in place by a sleeve 34 having tapered sides which cause the saw to fit snugly against the sides of the bore when driven in. It is evident that the head with the saw attached may be readily removed from the sleeve, the securing sleeve driven out and the saw thus released for sharpening at any time, and that it may be as readily replaced, anyone however devoid of mechanical skill easily accomplishing this result. Moreover,

' the saw is always centered and there is no need of adjusting the same so that it will properly contact with the shells for cutting, all of the skilled work being done in the construction of the head and sleeve with the proper tapered surfaces between which the saw is held, as the machine is built. This is a feature of great value and importance as unskilled labor can be used with saws held in this manner, no adjusting or the like beingV necessary.

A rod 35 passes upwardly through the saw, sleeves 34 and 30 and through the end of the arm 28 having a pin and slot connection with 'the arm, pin 28 passing through slot 35 in the rod. vSaid rod is threaded at its upper end to receive nut 36. A collar 37 or similar member is attached tothe rod above the sleeve 30 and a coiled spring 38 is placed around the rod between the collar and arm 28 soA as to vforce rod 35 downward until stopped by nut 36. Adjust-` ment of nut 36 controls the distance rod 35 projects below the lower cutting end of the saw. l

The shell to be cut is placed on the block 22 so that it may be pressedV against by rod 35 when the unit is lowered, as later described, through the action of the cam member, the spring 38 pressing the rough outer side of the shell into the softer block 22 so that the shell is held firmly against rotation.V The lowerA end of the rod 35 has a flat face which presses'strongly against the inner face of the shell which is of heavy and strong texture lcapable ofY receiving strong pressure, whereby the outer ribbed and roughened parts of the shell `are pressed into the block and the inner surface of the shell immediately under and around the end of rod 35 is located substantially dat with Y respect'to the cutting end of the saw so that when the saw isbrought against the shell it cuts a clean and straightcut through the shell, which stands relatively stationary while the saw is rotating.

Around the drum 18 a plurality of the blank cutting units are placed and a belt 39 passes around wheels 9 and 10 vand bears against the several pulleys 31 as shown in Fig. 3 whereby all of the sleeves 30 and attached saws are rotated simultaneously with the exception of the one between the depending studs 8 as shown in Fig. 3. In practice one of the wheels 9 has a beveled gear 40 connected to it with which a similar pinion 41V meshes, which pinion is attached to a shaft 42 mounted on a racket 43 extending from the adjacent post 1. This shaft may beV driven in any suitable manner (not shown in the drawing)V and in this manner the various saws simultaneously. driven. i

At the lower end of the vertical shaft 17 a worm wheel 45 is secured, engaging' with which is a worm 46 on the end of a shaft 47, the same extending outwardly and having a pulley 48 at its outer end. A belt may be passed around this pulley and pulley 44 on shaft 42 for driving the shaft 47 and thereby turning drum 18 and attached blank cutting units during the operation of the nu,- chine. It is desirable, in practice to divide the shaft 47 and detachably connect the parts by means of clutch members as shown at 49 land 50. The memberO is provided with a collar with which an operating yoke 51 engages. The yoke is secured toa shaft 52 which extends to the front of the machine :ma Y

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directly below it. This portion 13 of the cam member is designed to be directly before the position of theoperator of the machine, and it is at this point that the shells are put in or changed in the machine, with rod spaced a. short distance abcveits associated Vblock 22. The shaft 1T and attached drums are turning during this operation of changing the shell and when the upper end of rod 25 of the unit comes to the shoulder 16, said rod and attached sleeve are moved downwardly, and spring 38 permitted to act so that it presses said rod against the shell to holdV it in position. lWith the further rotative movement ofthe shaft 17 and the riding of the upper end of the rod 25 on the in- Cline ll, the sleeve 30 and attached saw are moved uniformly in a downward direction and the saw feeds slowly into the shell, cuttinga circular blank therefrom which enters the lower end of the saw, the rod 35 pressing firmly against it. When the cycle or" the machine is completed for this particular unit, rod 25 rides over shoulder 15 to the flat portion 13 of the cam member, spring 26 elevates the unit as a whole, and rod 85 thereupon `forces the sawed blank from the saw, and the shell may be changed in position or replaced and the cutting` operation repeated. This operation is the same with all of the units, each unit, as it comes to the position of the operator being elevated by its snring 26 and ejecting a cut blank, and while the operator is changing' or replacing the shell in one unit, all the other units are cutting blanks from the shells held by them as is obvious.

This machine is one with which quantity production by use of a minimum of labor may be had. All the operator has to do is to keep the machine supplied with shells and change the position of the shells until all of the blanks possible have been cut therefrom, then replacing with new shells, and the machine does the rest. as has been outlined. The operator may stop the rotation of shaft 17 at an;7 time by turning lever to disengage the clutch. There is a point between the two arms where the pulleys are not in driving engagement with the belt 39 and with the rotation of the shaft 17 stopped, the unit so located can be examined and repaired, its saw *carrying head 32 removed and its saw replaced, or any other like replacements be made. lt will be noted that the mechanism of the units is entirely uncovered and is very ready of access for repair whenever needed. The holding of the shells without the intervention of the operator to keep them from rotating when acted upon by the saw is one primary feature of the invention. The means for holding the saws so that the same automatically center themselves is another, and the automatic downward feed of the saws so that each unit cuts a blank with each revolution of the shaft 17 completes the practical and operative construction of the machine for large production with a minimum of labor cost, as skilled labor not required in any particular for the operation of the machine. All of these features conn bine to make a particularly valuable and meritorious practical structure.

ln Fig. 4, a hand machine involving some of the features of the invention is shown. In this construction a single unit of the construction previously described is carried on a suitable supporting post 55, the arms or brackets 23, 2d and the lower bracket carrying the sleeve 2O projecting from the post the same as they project from the drums in the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The sleeve 30 is driven by a belt passingl around pulley 31, the belt 5G passing over idle pulleys 57 mounted on brackets projecting from the post and thence around a drive pulley 59 on a shaft 60 rotatably mounted on brackets 61 or other suitable supports near the base of the post. The shaft may be driven in any suitable manner from any suitable source of power. rlhe upper end of the post is turned over the upper end of the rod 25 and a cam 63 is rotatably mounted o n said upper part 62 of the post and may be operated by a handle so as to depress the rod 25 and attached mechanism. il weight 65 may be mounted on the handle to aid in the operation if desired,

This construction operates in practically the same manner as that previously described eXcept that one cutting unit only is worked and its downward movement is ma de by manually operating` the cam through the handle 64, the cam being released when the shell is sawed through and a blank formed, whereupon the blank is ejected from the saw as before. The block 22 is located in proper position and kept in such position for each of the units whether in the hand or automatic machine, and is adjusted to new positions only when the block becomes worn from action of the saw, or when the saw .is to be removed, the mechanism of the blank cutting units requiring only that the rod 25 shall be moved down for cutting` the blanks and released for upward movement for ejecting the cut blanks, thearm 2S elevating the rod 35 after the blank is ejected so as to furnish space for the entrance of new shells above the block 22 or for changinn' the position of the shells from which additional blanks are to be cut. The pin 28a in arm Q8 passing through slot- 35a in rod lli 35 keeps the rod from rotating, the slot permitting vertical movements ot the rod.

The constructions described are practlcal and operative and make possible the auto@ journalled in the arms of the inner vertical rod and provided at the lower end with' a tubular saw, an outer slidable rod extending through the sleeve and guided by an arm ot the said inner rod, a spring disposed on the outer rod and interposed between the same and the said arm for urging the outer rod downwardly, yieldable means for urging the inner rod upwardly and an overhead cam engaging` the inner rod and adapted to force the same and also the outer rod downwardly to cause the outer rod and the saw to progressively engage the material.

2. In a button blank cutting machine, a vertical support provided with an upper projecting arm and a pair of lower spaced projecting arms, an inner vertical rod slidably mounted in the said arms and extending through all of the same, said rodbeing also provided with an outwardly projecting upper arm and a pair of spaced lower projecting arms, the lower projecting arms being located between the lower projecting arms of the said support, whereby the sliding movemnt ot the inner vertical rod is limited, a coiled spring disposed on the inner'vertical rod under compression and arranged to urge the said rod upwardly,a ver tical sleeve rotatively mounted in the lower arms of the said rod and extending through the lower arms of the support, a pulley mounted on the said sleeve and located between the said lower arms, a tubular saw carried by the said sleeve at the lower end thereof, an outer vertically A,lidable rod extending through the sleeve and guided through. the upper arm oft the inner rod,` a spring disposed on the outer rod and seated against the upper arm oi the inner rod for urging the said outer rod downwardly, and an overhead cam engaging the inner vertical rod and adapted to cause the outer vertical rod and the saw to successively engage the material. Y

3. ln a button blank cutting machine a vertical drum, a. plurality of button vcutting units arranged around the said drum, each unit including arms projecting trom and carried by the drum, an inner vertically slidable rod carried in `the said 4arms and provided with outwardly projecting arms, a rotary sleeve journaled in the arms of the inner vertical rod and carried by the same in the sliding movement thereof, a tubular sawcarried by the sleeve at thelower end thereof, an outer vertically slidable rod eX- the saw into engagement with the material.'V

4, In a button blank cutting machine aV vertical drum,a plurality of button cutting units arranged around the said drum, each unit including arms projecting from and carried by the drum, an inner vertically slidable rod carried in the said arms and provided with outwardly projecting arms, a rotary sleeve journaled in the arms ot' the inner vertical rod and carried by the same in its sliding movement thereof, a tubular saw carried by the sleeve at the lower end thereof, an outer verticallyslidable rod eXf tending` through the sleeve and projecting below the saw and slidably connected with an arm ofthe inner` vertical rod, a spring disposed on the outer vertical rod and bearing against the said arm forurging the inner vertical rod upwardly and an overhead cam provided with means Jfor continuously operating on the inner vertical Vrod at each unit 'for feeding the tubular saw progressively into the material through the major portion ot a revolution ot the drum.

5. In arbutton blank cutting machine a vertical drum, a plurality of button cutting units arranged around the drum and eac including arms projecting outwardly from the drum, an inner vertically slidable rod guided in the said arms and provided with outwardly projecting arms, rotary sleeve journaled in the arms ot the inner rod and carried by the latter inthe sliding movement thereof, a tubular saw carried by the sleeve at the lower end of the same, an outer vertically slidable rod extending through the sleeve and guided in one or' the arms of the inner vertical rod, a spring disposed on lll() the .outer vertical rod for urging the same plurality of spaced apart vertical posts, a trarne member connecting the lower ends of the posts, an upper trame member including `three radiating` arms connecting the upper ends ot the posts, branch arms on two ot the said arms extending toward each other, a stud depending from the end of each branch arm, a wheel rotatably mounted on each post and stud, all in the same horizontal plane, a vertical shaft rotatably carried by and between said upper and lower trame members, means to rotate the shaft, means to drive one of said wheels, a plurality of blank cutting units mounted vertically and in succession on and around the vertical shaft, each unit including a rotatably mounted sleeve and a saw substantially cylindrical in form projecting from the lower end ot the sleeve, a horizontal pulley on each sleeve, an endless belt passing around the wheels on each stud and bearing against the outer surfaces of the wheels on the posts and against all of the pulleyson the sleeves except between the two branch arms, means for holding a shell at the lower end of each saw, a cam member carried by the upper frame member, and means interposed between the cam member and each sleeve for progressively ,forcing the sleevesy and attached saws downwardly as vthe cutting units pass under the cam with the rotation ot the vert-ical support, said cam releasing the sleeves in succession as they come to a certain point in the machine, substantially as described.

7. ln a button blank cutting machine the combination of a vertical support provided with an upper horizontally projecting arm and a pair of lower horizontally projecting arms, an inner vertically slidable rod passing through and guided by the said arms and provided with an upper horizontal projecting arm and a pair ot lower horizon-v tally extending arms arranged between the lower arms of the support, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the lower arms of the inner vertical rod and carried by the same, a tubular saw carried by the lower end ot the sleeve,

means for rotating the sleeve, an outer ejecting rod mounted in the sleeve and eX- tending below the same and passing upwardly through the upper arm ot the inner vertical rod and having a slot and pin connection with the same, a spring disposed on the outer vertical rod for urging the same downwardly, a second spring mounted on the inner vertical rod and arranged to urge the same upwardly, and an overhead cam having` a cam tace extending around. the major portion ot the cam and arranged to engage the inner rod tor moving the outer rod and the saw into engagement with the material and tor progressively feeding the saw into the material during the major portion ot the vrevolution ot the vertical support.

8. ln a button blank cutting machine the combination of a vertical shaft, an upper trum carried on the shaft, a plurality of button cutting units, each comprising arms projecting outwardly from the upper drum, an inner vertically slidable rod mounted in the said arms and provided with outwardly extending arms, a rotary sleeve mounted in the arms of the inner rod and slidable with the saine, an outer vertical rod extending through the sleeve and guided in one of the arms ot the inner rod, a spring disposed on the outer vertical rod and seated against the said arm for urging the outer rod downwardly, yieldable means for urging the inner rod upwardly, a lower drum mounted on the shalt and provided with radially pro jeeting brackets having adjustable blocks located beneath the said saws, means for rotating the said sleeves and saws, and an overhead cam located above the upper drum and arranged to engage the inner vertical rod et each unit and having a cam face adapted to continuously feed the saw into the material'during the major portion et a revolution of the vertical shaft.

ln testimony whereof l aiiix my signature.

WARREN E. KNOTT. 

